Namibian international defender Riaan Hanamub delivered another standout performance on Saturday, earning the Player of the Match award after helping AmaZulu secure a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Marumo Gallants at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.
The win lifted AmaZulu to third place on the Betway Premiership standings, underlining the KwaZulu-Natal outfit’s impressive recent form.
For Hanamub, the accolade marked his second Man of the Match award in two months, having previously claimed the honour in AmaZulu’s 1–0 win over Golden Arrows.
The encounter carried contrasting motivations for the two sides. Gallants were desperate to end a six-match winless run after a narrow midweek defeat to Kaizer Chiefs left them just three points above the relegation zone in 13th place. AmaZulu, on the other hand, were chasing three consecutive league wins for the first time this season, having edged TS Galaxy 3–2 last weekend.
Gallants dominated possession for large spells in the first half but struggled to convert control into clear-cut chances, testing AmaZulu goalkeeper Darren Johnson only once from five attempts.
AmaZulu were slightly more threatening in front of goal, registering one more shot, with their best opportunity coming seven minutes before the break when Nkosikhona Radebe’s cross found Keegan Allan, whose header was comfortably dealt with by Washington Arubi.
The hosts continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball after the interval, yet their profligacy in the final third once again proved costly.
AmaZulu punished Gallants’ missed opportunities when Mbanjwa surged ahead of his marker at the near post to glance a header past Arubi, finishing off a well-delivered cross from Hanamub.
Speaking after the match, Hanamub played down individual praise, opting instead to credit the collective effort. “I was chosen Man of the Match, but I think this award belongs to all ten other players because they fought just as hard,” he said.
